TRBP 'interacts with other biologically active substances' in RNA effects

The RNA-binding protein TRBP has a number of other biologically active substances with which it interacts within the body, report researchers.

Analysis carried out using co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry to identify the proteins involved has been published in Cell & Bioscience.

It was conducted by scientists working at the National Health Research Institutes of Taiwan, Eastern Virginia Medical School and National Institutes of Health in Maryland, USA.

They were able to characterise the biologically active substances involved in TRBP-driven processes like the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC).

"Our findings provide a proteome of factors that may cooperate with TRBP in activities such as pre-microRNA processing and in RNA interference by the RISC complex," they write.

The identified proteins included some responsible for RNA modifications and processing, cell proliferation, DNA transcription and protein synthesis, among others.

Cell & Bioscience is the official periodical publication of the Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America.